Valokuvaaja Dory Chamoun

—Oletko valokuvauksellinen?

—Ouff... even though I don't believe I am, I still have to say yes. The reason is that everyone has their photogenic side. Every person is unique and each uniqueness is beautiful. I have to follow what I preach because I know that I can capture the beauty in anyone I photograph.

—Miten päädyit valokuvausalalle?

—I have to say that my biggest influence since I was a child was my uncle. He always had a camera in hand, and therefore, so did I. I love life, and I love to show others the beauty in it. So in my career, I get to do that every single day. I have the privilege to be at everyone's important events and capture them through my eyes. I have the honour to be trusted by others for me to capture their personality and to later justify that trust. I simply love what I do.

—Mikä on sinusta tärkeintä hyvässä kuvassa?

—For you to see yourself in there. For you to, not only remember the moment captured, but the emotions you were feeling at that moment. I want my clients to look back at their photos and relive each special moment. For them to look back and say "Yes, that was us". To evoke that emotion all over again, wether it be laughter, love, passion and even sadness at times.

—Tykkäätkö matkustamisesta?

—Absolutely! We love in this world. The boundaries of my life are not only the city lines, province lines, country lines... but the whole planet we live on. I love to experience all cultures and way of life. When I travel to do a destination wedding or event, I make sure to capture everything starting from the moment we leave until the moment I get back. I want them to have their whole trip captured.

—Mistä pidät eniten ammatissasi?

—The fact that I can show my clients the beauty in what I see trough my lens. That I can tell a story of their special day. That I can make anyone feel beautiful and photogenic. The ability to ave someone look back at their wedding and cry, smile, laugh and feel every ounce of emotion they felt then. To show them what I see.

—Mistä pidät vähiten ammatissasi?

—That I can't clone myself and be in more places. That I am always tempted to do more. It's hard for me to stop shooting. I always want to keep going. As mochas I love my work, I always want to push to do more.

—Mikä on valokuvauksen tulevaisuus?

—For now... drones, in terms of tech. But for the art of it, it the classic side of it will always remain. Trends come and go and come back again. I can't say exactly what will happen, but I know that for as long as it exists, people will always be people... there will always be emotions and there will always be light. Photography is light.

—Mikä on sille valokuvauslajille erityistä, johon olet erikoistunut?

—I adapt to my clients. I am passionate in what I do and therefore it translates into my work. I am not only there to capture their moments, but I am also there to make them feel great. All my couples feel comfortable when I am around. I help them enjoy each moment.

—Kuinka suhtaudut kritiikkiin?

—As openly as I can. My ultimate goal is to offer the best I can to my couples. Needs change.. and if I don't listen and am open to it, then there is no point.

—Onko valokuvauksessa trendejä?

—Yes, tons... too many to list. By the time you read this, more new ones will start. But, since I am asked, here are a few. (smoke bombs, back lighting, fun shots, jump shots, candids will always be in)

—Minkä kriteerien perusteella asiakkaan pitäisi valita valokuvaaja?

—Meet your photographer. Sit down and chat with them. They will be with you for your whole day so having a good connection with them is key. They work will speak for itself, so now, speak with them.

—Mikä on ehdottomasti kiellettyä kuvauksessa?

—Hmmm... anything disrespectful I guess. I'm ok with having uncle bob shooting alongside of me. I will actually help adjust his camera so he can get better pictures. :)

—Mitkä yksityiskohdat, jotka yleensä jäävät huomaamatta, valokuvaaja voi tallettaa?

—Well, the bride & groom are caught up in their moments. There day passes by so fast that they barely have a chance to focus on other things. A photographer will see something in a different light. A different angle. In doing so, he/she can bring out or emphasize more a story. There will always be the party shots that will be captures.
But overall, a whole story could happen in a fraction of a section and that, most people miss out on.

—Mikä vaikuttaa kuvan arvoon? Mikä kuvissa on tärkeintä?

—Emotions and the story told.

—Kuka on sinun mielestäsi 2000-vuosisadan symboli?

—I honestly don't know how to answer this one. Sorry.

—Ketä haluaisit kuvata?

—Everything and everyone :)

—Onko sinulla ammatillisia tabuja?

—I've been doing it long enough and love it way to much to be affected by anything.

—Kenen kanssa haluaisit kuvata?

—Anyone as passionate as me. (I will give a shoutout to Yervant. I love his work and love his sense of humour and passion in what he does. He LOVES photography and life itself.)

—Mistä huolehdit ja miksi?

—Missing a moment. That will always be there. I always strive to capture everything so it's normal to worry about missing something.

—Mikä on ollut elämäsi vaikuttavin hetki?

—I can't bring it down to one moment, or even a few. I want to have as many impressive moments as I can. Life is not about waiting for that one moment or measuring it up to everything else. It's about finding all the small moments that bring you joy.

—Jos olisit animoitu, kirjallisuus- tai elokuvahahmo, kuka olisit ja miksi?

—Superman... simply because I want to help and save anyone I can.

—Kuka sinua on inspiroinut elämässäsi ja miksi?

—My uncle. He grew this passion in me.

—Miten ja millä perusteella määrittelisit menestyksen?

—By my client's reactions. By seeing the tears in their eyes, hearing their laughter. Seeing them tell everyone else that they have to go with me for their event.

—Haluaisitko olla mieluummin tykätty vai kunnioitettu?

—I can't choose. Sorry.

—Mikä on suurin virheesi, jonka olet tehnyt työssäsi?

—Ouch! I don't know if this would count, but once had the wrong file setting for my pictures. It meant I had to edit more afterwards.

—Kun lähdet matkalle, mitä otat mukaasi ja miksi?

—Everything! I can't have a moment where I will say "If only I brought..."

—Oletko koskaan toivonut, ettet olisi ostanut jotain omistamistasi vempaimista? Miksi?

—Everything I bought, I have used and made the best of it.

—Miten opettelet ottamaan parempia kuvia?

—By letting my inner creative side talk. I also get inspired by going to work shops and watching the work of others.

—Kuka on vaikuttanut eniten ammattiisi valokuvaajana?

—Yervant

—Minkä yhden asian olisit toivonut tietäväsi, kun aloitit kuvaamisen?

—Not accurate to answer this at all because there will always be something to learn. Who I am today as a photographer was because of what I knew then and how I grew it from there.

—Mitä haluat ilmaista valokuvillasi?

—I want the story of that moment told. The emotions that were felt at that moment.

—Mikä motivoi sinua jatkamaan kuvausta?

—I love life and always will.

—Olisiko vanhempiesi pitänyt olla tiukempia tai päinvastoin?

—Same as a previous question, I am who I am know because of my past. No changes. :)

—Jos voisit palata ajassa taaksepäin, mitä tekisit eri tavalla?

—Same answer as before as well. Nothing.

—Uskotko, että muilla planeetoilla on elämää?

—I believe in them. I am sure that we are far from being the only ones out there.

—Ketkä ovat sankareitasi?

—Anyone that helps make this world a better place.

—Ketä et kunnioita?

—Same as before, anyone that helps make this world a better place.

—Mitä teet vapaa-ajallasi?

—Socialize, play games, walk my dog

—Mitä puolta yleisö ei koskaan näe sinussa?

—hah hah... if I said it, then it defeats the purpose. ;)

—Milloin olet täysin tyytyväinen työhösi?

—When my couples are overwhelmed in emotion and satisfaction.

—Uskotko miesten ja naisten perinteisiin rooleihin?

—Nope.. we are all equal and should be open to doing anything we like.

—Saatko helposti ystäviä?

—Don't you feel like you are my friend already? :)

—Missä haluaisit asua?

—Too many places to choose from... but I love Europe overall. I would love to travel all over the world.

—Mikä on typerin asia, johon olet koskaan suostunut?

—Wear a mankini in public for losing a bet.

—Jatkuuko elämä avioliiton jälkeen?

—of course.

—Onko sinulla suosikkivitsiä? Kerro pois.

—oh boy... I will fill this field in after. Too many to tell and choose from. Meet with me and I will tell you a few. Deal?

—Pidätkö koirista vai kissoista?

—I love all animals and have a gorgeous Berner names Maximus.

—Ketä tai mitä vihaat?

—Nothing

—Parasta elämässä on:

—to enjoy it

—Ärsyttävintä elämässä on:

—not to enjoy it. lol

—Haluaisitko muuttaa mitään ympärilläsi?

—hmmm... I would like a million dollars.

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa itsessäsi?

—My weight.. I would like to lose weight.

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa maailmassa?

—Just to have everyone take a moment and realize that we are all connected. To stop fighting with each other. To do good deeds, to be selfless. To love and enjoy life.

—Haluaisitko antaa vinkkejä aloitteleville valokuvaajille?

—Trust your eye

—Jos Maahan saapuisi avaruusolioita ja he näkisivät sinut ensimmäisenä, mitä sanoisit heille?

—I would probably crack them up and we would be best friends. I would tell them how amazing life is.

—Jos sinut kutsuttaisiin kuvaamaan elokuvaa, mitä tyylilajia se edustaisi?

—Romantic-Action-Comedy... does that exist?

—Huomenna aion...

—more photos and editing and making people laugh... enjoy life.